Childproof closure and container

ABSTRACT

This disclosure relates to a childproof closure and container which includes three components, namely, a container, a closure and a novel fitment including an annular wall adapted to exteriorly telescopically embrace a peripheral skirt of the closure when the same is seated upon the container finish, means in the form of projecting fingers are formed inboard of the annular wall and are received in outwardly opening recesses of the container finish thereby limiting relative rotation between the fitment and the closure while providing recesses into which project locking lugs of the closure whereby the fitment must be slid axially downwardly prior to the removal of the closure from the container thereby rendering the combination childproof.

United States Patent [191 Lecinski CHILDPROOF CLOSURE AND CONTAINER [75] Inventor: Frank H. Lecinski, Harwood Heights, Ill.

[73] Assignee: Continental Can Company, 1nc.,

New York, NY.

[22] Filed: Jan. 24, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 220,310

[52] U.S. Cl. ..2l5/9, 215/95, 215/44 [51] Int. Cl. .:...B65d 55/02 [58] Field of Search ..2l5/9, 95, 44

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,656,645 4/1972 Fontenelli ..2l5/9 3,677,431 7/1972 Westfall ..215/9 [4 1 May 1,1973

Primary Examiner-George T. Hall Attorney-Diller, Brown, Ramik & Holt 5 7] ABSTRACT This disclosure relates to a childproof closure and container which includes three components, namely, a container, a closure and a novel fitment including an annular wall adapted to exteriorly telescopically embrace a peripheral skirt of the closure when the same is seated upon the container finish, means in the form of projecting fingers are formed inboard of the annular wall and are received in outwardly opening recesses of the container finish thereby limiting relative rotation between the fitment and the closure while providing recesses into which project locking lugs of the closure whereby the fitment must be slid axially downwardly prior to the removal of the closure from the container thereby rendering the combination childproof.

20 Claims, 20 Drawing Figures PATENTEDMY Hm 3.730.370

SHEET 3 BF 4 CHILDPROOF CLOSURE AND CONTAINER Various different types of so-called childproof closures have been developed over the years and essentially the primary function thereof is to prevent inadvertentand/or accidental removal of an associated closure and the container contents. A most typical example is that of children eating aspirin tablets thinking them to be candies, particularly is colored. At the other extreme are closures which are virtually impossible to remove and though so-called childproof, they are equally virtually adultproof. This is particularly disadvantageous if the closures are associated with medicinal containers used by arthritic or elderly persons who have not the strength to pull, twist, push, turn, etc., intricate components to gain access to the container contents.

In view of the foregoing, it is a primary object of this invention to provide a novel childproof closure which in conjunction with a container includes a novel fitment having an annular wall adapted to exteriorly telescopically embrace a peripheral skirt of the closure, and means inboard of the annular skirt for limiting and/or preventing relative rotation of the fitment while permitting axial sliding movement between the fitment and the container whereby the closure can be subsequently removed.

A further object of this invention is to provide a novel combination of the type heretofore described wherein the limiting means are defined by a plurality of projecting fingers of the fitment which are received in recesses of the container finish, and means'are provided for biasing the fitment in an upward direction with respect to the container finish to maintain the recesses and fingers in normally interlocked relationship.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a novel combination of the type heretofore set forth including slot means inboard of said annular wall and between said fingers for receiving therethrough locking means carried by the peripheral skirt of said closure.

With the above and other objects in view that will hereinafter appear, the nature of the invention will be more clearly understood by reference to the following detailed description, the appended claimed subject matter, and the several views illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings;

FIG. 1 is an exploded view of one novel combination of this invention, and illustrates from top to bottom a closure, a fitment and a container finish prior to the assembly of these components.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary top plan view taken generally along line 2-2 of FIG. 1, and illustrates three axially extending recesses in the periphery of the container finish.

FIG. 3 is a 360 development of the container finish, and illustrates a locking thread and stop between each pair of vertical recesses.

FIG. 4 is a slightly enlarged top plan view of the fitment taken generally along line 4--4 of FIG. 1, and illustrates three upwardly projecting fingers each of which is adapted for receipt in an associated one of the vertical recesses of the container finish.

FIG. 5 is a slightly enlarged bottom plan view of the closure taken along the line 55 of FIG. 1, and illustrates three locking lugs each of which is adapted to engage one of the threads of the container finish in the locked position of the closure.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the components of FIG. 1, and illustrates the same in the assembled locked condition thereof.

FIG. 7 is a top plan view of the closure, fitment and container of FIG. 1 in the assembled and locked condition thereof, and illustrates one of the fitment fingers received in one of the recesses of the container finish with an annular wall of the fitment in exterior telescopic relationship to the closure peripheral skirt.

FIG. 8 is a highly enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken generally along line 88 of FIG. 7, and illustrates the manner in which the closure peripheral skirt is telescopically embraced by the annular wall of the fitment with the fitment being biased upwardly by a plurality of lower resilient wall segments, only one of which is illustrated in FIG. 8.

FIG. 9 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken generally along line 99 of FIG. 7, and illustrates the manner in which one of the locking lugs of the closure passes through the space between adjacent fingers of the fitment and engages beneath one of the container finish threads.

FIG. 10 is a view identical to FIG. 9, but illustrates the fitment drawn downwardly to its lowermost position whereupon the closure can be removed by applying a rotational force thereto until the lugs are aligned with the container finish recesses.

FIG. 11 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view similar to FIG. 8, and illustrates the manner in which the closure is now lifted axially upwardly to complete the removal thereof from the container."

FIG. 12 is an exploded view of another novel combination of this invention, and illustrates from top to bottom a closure, a fitment and a container finish prior to the assembly of these components.

FIG. 13 is an enlarged fragmentary top plan view taken generally along line l3-13 of FIG. 12, and illustrates three axially extending recesses in the periphery of the container finish.

FIG. 14 is an enlarged top plan view of the fitment taken generally along line 14-14 of FIG. 12, and illustrates three upwardly and inwardly projecting fingers each of which is adapted for receipt in an associated one of the vertical recesses of the container finish.

FIG. 15 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the components of FIG. 1 with portions thereof broken away and removed for clarity, and illustrates the same in the assembled locked conditions thereof.

FIG. 16 is a 360 development of the container finish, and illustrates a locking thread and stop between each pair of vertical recesses.

FIG. 17 is a cross-sectional view taken generally along line 17-17 of FIG. 15, and illustrates each of the fitment fingers received in one of the recesses of the container finish with an annular wall of the fitment in exterior telescopic relationship to a peripheral skirt of the closure.

FIG. 18 is a fragmentary enlarged sectional view taken generally along line l8-l8 of FIG. 17, and illustrates the locked condition of the combination with the annular wall of the fitment encompassing the closure peripheral skirt and one of the fingers received in an associated recess of the container finish.

FIG. 19 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken generally along line 19-19 of FIG. 17, and illustrates one of three locking lugs engaged beneath one of the threads of the container finish.

FIG. 20 is a fragmentary sectional view similar to FIGS. 18 and 19, and illustrates the manner in which the fitment is drawn downwardly to withdraw the fingers thereof from the recesses to permit the removal of the closure.

Referring particularly to FIG. 1 of the drawings, a novel combination constructed in accordance with this invention includes a closure or cap 11, a fitment 12, and a container 13.

The container 13 includes a body 14 having a finish 15 which includes three identical threads 16 (FIG. 3) between each pair of which is an identical axially extending outwardly opening recess 17. The threads 16 may be helical, flat or of most any conventional configuration and may or may not each terminate at stops 18 which limit rotation of the closure 11 thereon in a clockwise (as viewed from above) position which is the direction of rotation when assembling the closure 11 upon the container 13, as will be more apparent hereinafter.

Each recess 17 is also defined by opposing limiting or abutment means 20, 21 which cooperate with the fitment 12 in a manner to be described hereinafter. In addition, each recess 17 may optionally though not necessarily be provided with an outwardly opening peripheral extending groove or recess 22.

The fitment 12 (FIGS. 1, 4 and 8) comprises a generally annular body (unnumbered) having an exterior annular wall 25 terminating at an upper surface 26 and having a lower outwardly flared end portion 27 (FIG. 8). Inboard of the exterior annular wall 25 and in part defined thereby is an axially upwardly opening recess 28 (FIG. 10) defined by a lower portion of the annular wall 25, a bight portion 30, and an axially short annular wall 31. Three identical means in the form of extensions or fingers 32 of the short axial wall 31 project upwardly and generally inwardly terminating in rounded noses 33. The fingers 32 are each of a width sufficient to be received between the abutment surfaces 20, 21 of the recesses 17 and the contour and curvature of each nose 33 corresponds to that of each of the recesses 22 of the container finish 15. The fitment fingers are spaced from one another by circumferential spaces or gaps 29 which function in a manner to be described hereinafter.

The fitment l2 terminates in biasing means, generally designated by the reference numeral 34 which are a plurality of generally trapezoidal or rectangular segments 35 having apertures 36 to increase the flexibility thereof. When in the normal locked position of the fitment 12 (FIGS. 8 and 9) the biasing means 34 continually urge the fitment l2 axially upwardly due to the engagement of the segments 35 with the tapered container finish.

The closure 11 includes an end panel 40 and a depending peripheral skirt 41 terminating in inwardly upwardly and outwardly directed curl 42 interrupted by three identical locking lugs 43 which project radially inwardly beyond the curl portions 42, in the manner best illustrated in FIGS. 9 through 11 of the drawings. As in the case of the fingers 32, the lugs 43 are ofa size to freely slide axially through the recesses 17 and engage the thread 16 when rotated either for assembly or disassembly.

The operation of the combination 10 will be best understood from FIGS. 7 through 1] to which attention is now directed, it being noted that in FIGS. 7, 8 and 9 the components are in their assembled and locked condition, namely, the lugs 43 are each fully threaded upon an associated one of the threads 16; each finger 32 lies in an associated recess 17 with its nose 33 in one of the recesses 22; the deflecting means 34 urge the fitment l2 upwardly to maintain the same in the position illustrated in FIGS. 7 through 9; and the lugs 43 engage the threads 16 through the spaces or gaps 29 between the fitment fingers 32. 1

In order to disassemble the combination 10 from the position illustrated in FIGS. 8 and 9, the fitment 12 is manually grasped and drawn downwardly to the position shown in FIG. 10 at which point the fingers 32 are drawn downwardly a sufficient distance in the recesses 17 to free the lugs 43, as shown in FIG. 10. The closure 11 is now rotated, as indicated by the unnumbered headed arrow in FIG. 10 until each lug 43 reaches an associated recess 17 (FIG. 11) after which the closure is merely lifted axially upwardly to remove the same from the container. In order to reassemble the combination 10 to the position shown in FIGS. 8 through 9 the process is reversed, namely, the fitment 12 is first placed upon the container 13 by simply aligning the fingers 32 with the recesses 17 and depressing the fitment 12 to the position shown in FIG. 1 l. Thereafter the lugs 43 are aligned with the recesses 17 and the closure is moved axially to the position shown in FIG. 11 after which it is rotated in an opposite sense to that shown in FIG. 10 to its final position (FIG. 9) whereafter the fitment is released and the biasing means 34 urges the fitment to the position shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, once again rendering the components in their locked position.

Referring now to FIG. 12 of the drawings, another novel combination 50 constructed in accordance with this invention includes a closure or cap 51, a fitment 52, and a container 53.

The container 53 includes a body 54 having a finish 55 which includes three identical threads 56 (FIG. 16) between each pair of which is an identical axially extending outwardly opening recess 57. The threads 56 may be helical, flat or of most any conventional configuration and may or may not each terminate at stops 58 which limit rotation of the closure 51 thereon in a clockwise (as viewed from above) position which is the direction of rotation when assembling the closure 51 upon the container 53, as will be more apparent hereinafter.

Each recess 57 is also defined by opposing limiting or abutment means 60, 61 which cooperate with the fitment 52 in a manner to be described hereinafter. In addition, between each pair of recesses 57 and beneath each thread 56 is provided an outwardly projecting bead or rim 62 for retaining the fitment 52 upon the finish 55 of the container 53 as will be apparent hereinafter.

The fitment 52 (FIGS. 12, 14, 15 and 17) comprises a generally annular body (unnumbered) having an exterior annular wall 65 terminating at an upper flared surface or rim 66, and having at a lower end a plurality of inwardly directed circumferentially spaced locking beads 67 (FIG. 19). Inboard of the exterior annular wall 65 and in part defined thereby is an axially upwardly opening recess 68 (FIG. 18) defined by a lower portion of the annular wall 65, a plurality of circumferentially spaced bight portions 70, and three identical means in the form of extensions, projections or fingers 72 which project upwardly and generally inwardly terminating at end surfaces 72. The fingers 72 are each of a width sufficient to be received between the abutment surfaces 60, 61 of the recesses 57.

The fitment 52 terminates in biasing means, generally designated by the reference numeral 74 which are a plurality (three) of generally rectangular flexible segments 75. When in the normal locked position of the fitment 12 (FIG. 18) the biasing means 74 continually urge the fitment 52 axially upwardly due to the engagement of the segments 75 with the tapered container finish.

The closure 51 includes an end panel 80 and a depending peripheral skirt 81 terminating in an inwardly, upwardly and outwardly directed curl 82 interrupted by three identical locking lugs 83 which project radially inwardly beyond the curl portions 82, in the manner best illustrated in FIGS. 18 through of 20 of drawings. As in the case of the fingers 72, the lugs 83 are of a size to freely slide axially through the recesses 57 and engage the thread 56 when rotated either for assembly or disassembly.

The operation of the combination 50 will be best understood from FIGS. 15 through to which attention is now directed, it being noted that in FIGS. 15, 18 and 19 the components are in their assembled and locked condition, namely, the lugs 83 are each fully threaded upon an associated one of the threads 56; each finger 72 lies in an associated recess 57; the deflecting means 74 urge the fitment 52 upwardly to maintain the same in the position illustrated in FIGS. 15, 18 and 19; and the lugs 83 engage the threads 56 through the spaces (unnumbered) between the fitment fingers 72.

In order to disassemble the combination 50 from the position illustrated in FIGS. 18 and 19, the fitment S2 is manually grasped and drawn downwardly to the position shown in FIG. 20 at which point the fingers 72 are drawn downwardly a sufficient distance in the recesses 57 to free the lugs 83, as is clearly shown in FIG. 20. The closure 51 is now rotated, as indicated by the unnumbered headed arrow in FIG. 20 until each lug 83 reaches an associated recess 57 (FIG. 20) after which the closure 51 is merely lifted axially upwardly to remove the same from the container 53. In order to reassemble the combination 50 to the position shown in FIGS. 15, I8 and 19 the process is reversed, namely, the fitment 52 is first placed upon the container 53 by simply aligning the fingers 72 with the recesses 57 and depressing the fitment 52 to the position shown in FIG. 20. Thereafter the lugs 83 of the closure 51 are aligned with the recesses 57 and the closure 51 is moved axially to the position shown in phantom outline in FIG. 20 after which it is rotated in an opposite sense to that shown in FIG. 20 to its final position (FIGS. 15, 18 and 19) whereafter the fitment is released and the biasing means 74 urges the fitment upwardly to the position shown best in FIG. 15, once again rendering the components in their locked position.

The childproof characteristics of the combinations 10, 50 lie chiefly in the inability of a child to realize that the fitments 12, 52 must be drawn axially downwardly to permit the release of the closures 11, 51 along with the fact that even if this fact were recognized, the fitments 12, 52 must be moved axially downwardly against the biasing forces of the biasing means 34, 74 which obviously increase the further down the fitments 12, 52 are axially slid. Moreover, even upon accomplishing this movement, the closures 11, 51 must be rotated in the proper direction and to a degree sufficient to align the lugs 43, 83 with the recesses 17, 57. Thus, by virtue of the fingers 32, 72 limiting and/or preventing rotation of the closures due to the positioning thereof in and normally closing the recesses 17, 57, at best a child would possibly rotate the closures 1 1, 51 until the lugs 43, 83 contacted the fingers 32, 72 but thereafter further movement and ultimate removal of the closures l l 51 are precluded.

It should also be noted that any attempts to grasp the fitments 12, 52 and lift the same upwardly is to no avail and the designs are such that if a utensil were forced behind one of the segments 35, of the biasing means 34, 74 only that particular segment would be lifted and in the case of the fitment 12 only to the extent of contacting the peripheral end portion 27 which is by design a more reinforced article, thus enabling the overall assemblies to reject attempts at prying off the fitments.

Though no specific material from which the closures ll, 51, the fitments 12, 52 and the containers 13, 53 are made has been mentioned heretofore, the material need only be limited insofar as thefunction requires. As an example, the closures 11, 51 are preferably constructed from metallic material but could as well be plastic. Likewise, though the fitments 12, 52 are preferably constructed from resilient polymeric or copolymeric material, such as polyethylene, rubber, plastisol or other suitable material may be employed.

The containers 13, 53 can, of course, be constructed from glass or any copolymer of sufficient rigidity to preclude ease of deformation.

While preferred forms and arrangements of parts have been shown in illustrating the invention, it is to be clearly understood that various changes in details and arrangement of parts may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of this disclosure.

I claim:

1. A fitment for securing a closure to the finish of a container comprising an annular wall adapted to exteriorly telescopically embrace a peripheral skirt of an associated closure seated upon the container finish, and means inboard of said annular wall for limiting relative rotation while permitting axial sliding movement between the container finish and said fitment whereby the extent of telescopic embracement may be reduced incident to the removal of the closure.

2. The fitment as defined in claim 1 wherein said limiting means is defined by means for entering a recess of the container.

3. The fitment as defined in claim 1 including means for biasing the fitment in an upwarddirection with respect to the container finish.

4. The fitment as defined in claim 1 including means for biasing the fitment in an upward direction with respectto the container finish, and said biasing means being defined by a plurality of deflectable elements which deflect outwardly under the influence of container finish contour upon axial downward movement of the fitment relative to the container finish.

5. The fitment as defined in claim 1 including recess means inboard of said annular wall for receiving therein locking means carried by the peripheral skirt of said closure.

6. The fitment as defined in claim 1 wherein said limiting means are defined by a plurality of circumferentially spaced projecting fingers.

7. The fitment as defined in claim 2 including recess means inboard of said annular wall for receiving therein locking means carried by the peripheral skirt of said closure.

8. The fitment as defined in claim 2 including means for biasing the fitment in an upward direction with respect to the container finish.

9. The fitment as defined in claim 3 including recess means inboard of said annular wall for receiving therein locking means carried by the peripheral skirt of said closure.

10. The fitment as defined in claim 4 including recess means inboard of said annular wall for receiving therein locking means carried by the peripheral skirt of said closure.

11. A container comprising a container body terminating at an upper end portion in an exterior finish, a fitment including an annular wall in exterior telescopic relationship with said exterior finish, and cooperative means between said exterior finish and said fitment for limiting rotation of said fitment relative to said exterior finish.

12. The container as defined in claim 11 wherein said cooperative means include recess means formed in said exterior finish and abutment means carried by said fitment inboard of the annular wall thereof.

13. The container as defined in claim 11 including means for biasing said fitment in an upward direction to maintain said cooperative means normally in contact with each other.

14. The container as defined in claim 11 including means inboard of said annular wall for receiving therein locking means carried by a closure adapted for securement upon said exterior finish.

15. The container as defined in claim 12 including means for biasing said fitment in an upward direction to maintain said cooperative means normally in contact with each other.

16. The container as defined in claim 12 including recess means inboard of said annular wall for receiving therein locking means carried by a closure adapted for securement upon said exterior finish.

17. The container as defined in claim 13 including recess means inboard of said annular wall for receiving therein locking means carried by a closure adapted for securement upon said exterior finish.

18. The container as defined in claim 14 including a closure having a peripheral skirt in sandwiched relationship between said annular wall and said exterior finish, and cooperative locking means securing said closure to said exterior finish through said recess means.

19. The container as defined in claim 18 including means for biasing said fitment in an upward direction to maintain said cooperative means normally in contact with each other.

20. The container as defined in claim 18 wherein said cooperative means include recess means formed in said exterior finish and abutment means carried by said fitment inboard of the annular wall thereof. 

1. A fitment for securing a closure to the finish of a container comprising an annular wall adapted to exteriorly telescopically embrace a peripheral skirt of an associated closure seated upon the container finish, and means inboard of said annular wall for limiting relative rotation while permitting axial sliding movement between the container finish and said fitment whereby the extent of telescopic embracement may be reduced incident to the removal of the closure.
 2. The fitment as defined in claim 1 wherein said limiting means is defined by means for entering a recess of the container.
 3. The fitment as defined in claim 1 including means for biasing the fitment in an upward direction with respect to the container finish.
 4. The fitment as defined in claim 1 including means for biasing the fitment in an upward direction with respect to the container finish, and said biasing means being defined by a plurality of deflectable elements which deflect outwardly under the influence of container finish contour upon axial downward movement of the fitment relative to the container finish.
 5. The fitment as defined in claim 1 including recess means inboard of said annular wall for receiving therein locking means carried by the peripheral skirt of said closure.
 6. The fitment as defined in claim 1 wherein said limiting means are defined by a plurality of circumferentially spaced projecting fingers.
 7. The fitment as defined in claim 2 including recess means inboard of said annular wall for receiving therein locking means carried by the peripheral skirt of said closure.
 8. The fitment as defined in claim 2 including means for biasing the fitment in an upward direction with respect to the container finish.
 9. The fitment as defined in claim 3 including recess means inboard of said annular wall for receiving therein locking means carried by the peripheral skirt of said closure.
 10. The fitment as defined in claim 4 including recess means inboard of said annular wall for receiving therein locking means carried by the peripheral skirt of said closure.
 11. A container comprising a container body terminating at an upper end portion in an exterior finish, a fitment including an annular wall in exterior telescopic relationship with said exterior finish, and cooperative means between said exterior finish and said fitment for limiting rotation of said fitment relative to said exterior finish.
 12. The container as defined in claim 11 wherein said cooperative means include recess means formed in said exterior finish and abutment means carried by said fitment inboard of the annular wall thereof.
 13. The container as defined in claim 11 including means for biasing said fitment in an upward direction to maintain said cooperative means normally in contact with each other.
 14. The container as defined in claim 11 including means inboard of said annular wall for receiving therein locking means carried by a closure adapted for securement upon said exterior finish.
 15. The container as defined in claim 12 including means for biasing said fitment in an upward direction to maintain said cooperative means normally in contact with each other.
 16. The container as defined in claim 12 including recess means inboard of said annular wall for receiving therein locking means carried by a closure adapted for securement upon said exterior finish.
 17. The container as defined in claim 13 including recess means inboard of said annular wall for receiving therein locking means carried by a closure adapted for securement upon said exterior finish.
 18. The container as defined in claim 14 including a closure having a peripheral skirt in sandwiched relationship between said Annular wall and said exterior finish, and cooperative locking means securing said closure to said exterior finish through said recess means.
 19. The container as defined in claim 18 including means for biasing said fitment in an upward direction to maintain said cooperative means normally in contact with each other.
 20. The container as defined in claim 18 wherein said cooperative means include recess means formed in said exterior finish and abutment means carried by said fitment inboard of the annular wall thereof. 